Yes, Lutz frequently is full of bull and puts his foot waaaaay in his mouth.However, look at what he has done,and is doing. Lutz is betting on the Volt,and the Volt system.
The Volt and smaller/larger versions of it are going to get us off imported oil-WITH ALL THAT THAT IMPLIES.Heck, in 20 years we might be buiilding statues of Lutz.
The Volt will scale up and down in size,and carrying capacity,and it will be able to scale a sideways in cost.If you have plenty of money and want the most expensive version,then you get the 40 mile plug in one with a 3 cyl TDI that makes it a 60 mpg car once the battery is drained.Not so affluent,then you get 15 mile plug in range with a spark ignition 1000 cc 3 cyl that gets maybe 40 mpg.
GM has their other hybrid system(currently in the Tahoe) for vehicles that need heavy tow or heavy carrying capacity.
The Volt runs on coal;in the USA we have plenty of coal.We also have plenty of wind,sunlight,and coastline,and the Volt runs on them also.We should build more NUKES,and it runs on that also.
Oil is killing us-literally killing us,and tanking our economy.
Ignore what Lutz says,and look at what he is doing.GM might save us from imported oil;they are certainly trying.
Charlie